It has improved its fencing to keep badgers out and is giving animals contraception to prevent overcrowding amid the movement restrictions.

Both zoos hope restrictions will be removed by the end of the year.

Dartmoor Zoo statement in full

In common with a number of zoos and wildlife parks in the south west, we can confirm that we have received a positive test result for TB. This was confirmed following the post mortem of a lechwe antelope that had been euthanised at the zoo last year. Our case is a strain of TB common in Devon that has affected several sites which have successfully regained their BALAI status.

This is the first confirmed case of TB at Dartmoor Zoo and we are complying fully with all required biosecurity measures. The positive TB result was immediately reported to APHA and the withdrawal of our BALAI status was automatically triggered on 18 January. Under regulations, we must now TB test a number of TB-susceptible species in our collection. All results must be returned negative on two occasions at appropriate intervals in order for our BALAI status to be restored. Our first round of TB testing will take place during March in consultation with our veterinarian. If all goes well, we should have our BALAI status restored within a year, as has been the case for other regional zoos.

We wish to reassure the public that there is no increased risk to our human visitors and that the Zoo is open as usual. The welfare of our animals is our highest priority and we will continue to take appropriate action to minimise the risk of infection to our other residents in compliance with APHA guidance.

Neighbouring farms aren’t currently affected and it is possible that the disease was introduced to our lechwe by badgers, which are known to live near the Zoo. We have no plans to cull badgers. Instead, we aim to take humane preventative steps to limit the potential threat of TB transfer from badgers to other species. To this end, we are working with a local badger conservation group to badger-proof enclosures and we are also exploring the option to inoculate the resident population.

Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the Badger Trust, said it was "unfair" to blame badgers and that the zoos should look at testing food and animals brought in.

"It's easy to focus on badgers but it could be coming in from raw meat," he said.

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